A KSHTRIYA MUST FIGHT

A KSHTRIYA MUST FIGHT

          Kshatriyas are among the four castes of Hinduism.  Other three are – Brahmins, Vaishyas and Shudras.  Brhamins are referred to as priestly class.  They are scholars and pedagogues who provide the services of teachers and mentors.  The duties of the Vaishyas are to work as agriculturalists , traders and businessmen. Shudras are ordained to work as labourers and service providers.

          Our concern here is about the duties of Kshatriyas also known as Khukrains. Summarily speaking, they are the ruling and the administrative class but more than that they are warriors whose main task is the defence of their  territory.

          It is in the Gita that we find that to fight is the dharma of a Kshtriya.  Here Arjuna, a member of the Pandavas clan, hesitates to fight against Kauravas because they also include his kith and kin.  To kill them will be against his will.  This hesitation is expressed before Lord Krishna who commands him to fight because the war before him is a just war against evil.  He warns him that if he refuses to fight this righteous war, then, shirking his duty, he will lose his reputation, he will incur sin.

          Lord Krishna also tells him that there is hardly any  difference between victory and defeat. If he dies fighting, he will win heaven; but if he conquers the enemy, he will, enjoy sovereignty of the earth; therefore he must not entertain any fear and  get determined to fight.

          Arjuna is further told that those who die lose only their bodies.  Their souls are ever the same, changeless and eternal.

          He is further told that he is a lucky man who gets an opportunity to engage himself in war against unjust enemies.  It is a blessing from God which must be welcomed. To miss the chance of fighting provided by this blessing is abominable and is unbecoming of a Kshatriya.

          The implication of this dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna is that a Kshatriya is duty bound to fight according to the ethical code of his Varna.  Not only this he must raise his weapons with full fortitude and maximum might at his command.

          If we apply the crux of this dialogue to Maharaja Porus we realize that he was a true warrior according to the clan of Kshatriyas.